One of the cities of the Russian Federation received its own official symbol not so long ago. The coat of arms of Norilsk appeared in 1972, it was approved at a meeting of the local city executive committee, and Viktor Anatolyevich Leshchuk was the author of the project. Then, twice, changes were made to the image and description of the main heraldic sign of the city, but they were insignificant and did not in any way affect the main character depicted on the shield.
From the history of the city
The merchants Sotnikovs and their people were the first to appear in these places, they were the first to begin the development of territories, mining of copper ore. Then a shaft furnace was built to produce the so-called blister copper.
A more serious development of the territories where the city is now located began only after the well-known events of October 1917. There is information that the first house was built in 1921, naturally, for geologists who were searching for minerals.
In 1935, the construction of the Norilsk plant began, respectively, a new settlement appeared on the map of the Soviet Union, since 1939 it was in the status of a working village, since 1953 - in the status of a city. That is why the question of Norilsk's own heraldic symbol was raised so late, especially in comparison with other cities in this Russian region.
Description of the coat of arms of Norilsk
The color photo shows an interesting selection of colors and shapes for the shield of the 1972 coat of arms. The shield is divided into four unequal fields, two fields of the upper edge were painted in the colors of the state flag of the RSFSR, which included Norilsk at that time. The other two fields are painted in gold and black, a combination uncharacteristic for European heraldry. Against this background, there are two important symbolic elements: a polar bear that has risen to its full height; the symbolic key to the city in the high paws of the bear.
Each of these interesting figures has its own meaning, for example, a formidable animal, firstly, is the brightest representative of the world of local fauna, and secondly, the bear symbolizes the power, the powerful forces of nature and man.
The key on the coat of arms of the city is also not quite ordinary, it consists of the name - "Norilsk", and the groove is represented by symbols of the most famous chemicals that are mined in the vicinity of the city - copper, nickel, cobalt.
Historical changes
With the advent of independence and the change in the state symbols of the country, the coat of arms of Norilsk also changed, the field of the shield is represented by the colors of the state flag of the Russian Federation.
The modern symbol has lost the name "Norilsk" and the image of chemical elements, now the bear is holding a symbolic golden key.
